Shoplifters

The theme of family is strong in the Japanese film Shoplifters. Not only does a family with limited resources stay together as best they can, they also take in strays. The concept of chosen family is heartwarming. They get creative when it comes to acquiring life's essentials. In desperation, they commit acts that are not legal in the interest of survival. In the end, it is about family and noodles. Food is prevalent in this film. I went to a noodle restaurant the day after to satisfy the craving the film created. Good film.

Isle of Dogs

With stop motion animation, Isle of Dogs tells the story of loyalty and perseverance.When a virus makes the entire canine population sick, the dogs are exiled to Trash Island. A boy sorely misses his dog and sets out on a quest to find his beloved companion. There are interesting characters in this film presented with dry, dry humor. Worth a look.

The Breadwinner

In my quest to see as many Oscar nominated films as I can, the Providence Children's Film Festival once again helped me out with a screening of a film nominated for animated feature. The Breadwinner is the story of a young girl in Afghanistan whose father is unjustly jailed by the Taliban. Left with her Mother and sister, she cuts her hair and dresses like a boy so she can go out in public alone to acquire water and food for her family. Themes of courage and oppression are heightened in this story. After the film, students from a local school read essays they had written after reading the book this film is based on. Heartening to see young people express themselves in empathy to the character's story. A nice film experience.

Loving

That Richard and Mildred Loving were jailed for loving each other is ironic, appropriate and awful. In the film Loving the story of their pursuit of the lawsuit Loving vs The State of Virginia to legalize interracial marriage, is told in a quiet, respectful, realistic way. That this was ever against the law in this country blows my mind. The most powerful statement in the film is when Mildred is asked why they keep pursuing the lawsuit she says, "maybe this will help other people too." Boy did it. This is a good film and an important story.

Little Men

Rave reviews brought me to see Little Men. A quiet film about a friendship and several family struggles. There are ethics and feelings involved on a complicated level.The pace of the film was a little slow for me, but the relationships and the struggles make the film worth a look.

The Music of Strangers

Yo-Yo Ma has been on my radar for decades. Mot only for his music, but for his personality and activism. In the documentary The Music of Strangers we see his journey in these worlds. He approaches music as a window to different cultures with the creation of The Silk Road Ensemble. We are taken on journeys to the musicians' countries and are shown how the culture of their roots affects their music. A diverse group making beautiful music with so much joy. The audience I saw it with sat through the credits to enjoy the music, and applauded at the end. Wonderful music, wonderful stories, wonderful film.

Food Fight: Inside the Battle for Market Basket

Living in New England, the film Food Fight: Inside the Battle for Market Basket strikes a local chord. I saw the film maker on The Rhode Show and was happy to see that the story would be told on film. This documentary is well structured, dramatic, insightful and sometimes funny. It shows the passion that the workers and customers of Market Basket had and how far quality and compassion goes. Check it out if you can.

Room

One part of the story in the film Room takes place in a small room. It's claustrophobic. It's scary. The goal is to get out of the room. Turns out that getting out of the room is just as difficult as being in the room. Just in different ways. This is a story of survival, family and love. This film is well written and edited. The performances are outstanding and make for a compelling story. Great film.

Phoenix

Slow, subtle dramas are appealing to me. The film Phoenix is a slow burn. When a woman's identity is taken away, she learns things about her husband that are life changing. As the husband became more and more loathsome, the ending packed a satisfying punch.

The Wrecking Crew

The music of my youth has roots in recordings made with a group of session musicians known as The Wrecking Crew. The documentary affectionately traces their origins and careers. So much talent! The audience I saw this with applauded at the end and sat through all of the credits. We just didn't want the music to end. Denny Tedesco waited to release this film until he could afford to put all the music he wanted in this film. It was well worth the wait. Thanks Kickstarter.

Song of the Sea

I thought I had been pretty diligent in keeping up with animated features, but when the Oscar nominees were announced I was two short. Thankfully, the nominated Irish film Song of the Sea showed up on the Providence Children's Film Festival's schedule. A packed house of families, and folks like me. enjoyed this tale of family, adventure and fantasy. The animation is gorgeous and lent an air of whimsy to this delightful film.

Love Is Strange

When a couple of 39 years marry, their world is turned upside down. In Love Is Strange it is ok for the music director at a catholic school to have a boyfriend, but when he marries him the school fires him. This forces the couple to sell their apartment and temporarily move in with their families. Separately. The portrayal of the difference of lifestyle and relationships are very good. Alfred Molina and John Lithgow make a wonderful couple and deliver very real, touching and poignant performances. A different take on a love story that worked for me. Well done.

Obvious Child

In Obvious Child we learn that even when you screw up life goes on. Though Jenny Slate's character makes poor decisions, she perseveres with heart, and seems to learn from her experience. This is a story about being a young adult and finding a place in the world. It tackles tough subjects, but left me with a smile.

All Is Lost

As a person who has spent a fair amount of time on the ocean, I found the film All Is Lost terrifying. Setting it in the Indian Ocean gave it an exotic element that took me a bit out of the "this could happen to you" feeling. Still, the story of a single handed sailor dealing with his damaged sailboat in and after a storm is frightening. The cinematography and single performance lead the viewer down a road of survival most of us will never know. Well done.

Enough Said

In the film Enough Said a divorced woman enters a relationship with a nice man. A few complications arise that are uncomfortable and hilarious. The story is endearing, real and sweet. The twists and turns create the humor. There is one scene that will emotionally bring parents to their knees. I loved this film. And yes, James Gandolfini will be sorely missed.

What Maisie Knew

Two of the worst movie parents put their child at risk in What Maisie Knew. The reality of what happens to a child when neither parent has the child's best interest at heart is painful and a bit disturbing. This film has a lot of heart and scared the heck out of me more than once. Take care of your children folks.

Robot & Frank

A future story of dealing with ageing parents with technology is interesting. In Robot & Frank, Frank Langella is masterful as an ailing thief who has done is time and is living out his years in his own home. His son sends a robot to care for his father when his health begins to decline. Susan Sarandon is genuine as a local woman who is kind to Frank and accepts the progress and technology. There is a nice twist at the end. I liked this film.

Being Flynn

Being Flynn is the poignant story of a young man trying to find his way without his father. On tht way, he runs into his father. This film is based on a memoir and is treated with honesty, dignity, humor and love.

A Dangerous Method

The early years of modern psychoanalysis are chronicled in A Dangerous Method. Carl Jung and Sigmund Freud work to treat a young woman, who's recovery is rather remarkable. All three characters have ugly sides, but it's and interesting, true story. Another film with excellent performances.

The Artist

It's hard to believe that a silent, black and white film can be as joyful, dramatic and entertaining as The Artist. Skillfully acted, artfully staged and beautifully scored. Some of the music swells reminded me of Raiders of the Lost Ark and Beauty and the Beast. The use of stairs as a set piece adds to the the visual drama, along with Dujardin's smile. I was a skeptic going in and a fan coming out. See it!